Councilmembers present:

Donald MacGilvra, Alan Kiest, Carolyn Armanini, Dwight Thompson, Mary Jane Goss, Nate Herzog

Councilmember excused:

Peggy Gerdes

Staff present:

David Hutchinson, Mayor; Douglas Jacobson, City Administrator; Michael Ruark, City Attorney; John Rogers, Police Chief; Scott Drown, Administrative Sergeant; Frank Zenk, Director of Public Services; Jane Poppe, Court Administrator; Joyce Papke, Finance Director; Sarah Phillips, Government and Community Relations Coordinator; Susan Stine, City Clerk; Evelyn Jahed, Deputy City Clerk; Linda Page, Police Secretary

19 visitors

Mayor Hutchinson opened the informal study session prior to the regular council meeting at 6:40 p.m. He said that the informal study session had been called to discuss the city’s budget process in the light of the passage of Initiative 695.

Hutchinson discussed the election returns by precinct in the city and said the initiative had failed in Lake Forest Park with approximately 61 percent of the votes cast against the measure.

Hutchinson distributed policy guidelines prepared by the administration and asked for councilmembers’ comments to these points.

Cmbr. MacGilvra discussed revenue sources and agreed that the city must choose the least-cost alternative for the new city hall. However, he expressed concern regarding cutbacks to training for staff. He said that long-term and short-term solutions must be sought.

Cmbr. Armanini questioned the policy guideline regarding personnel. She said more information is needed related to court costs. Armanini said she is opposed to the proposal to eliminate support for the library and risk losing a highly valued service.

Cmbr. Herzog said that staffing could be reduced by attrition rather than cuts. He expressed concern regarding the proposal to use tax dollars formerly used for the library.

Cmbr. Goss said the city must look for ways to provide the services that citizens expect from their city and look for alternatives for providing services. Goss said she took it upon herself to verify the information provided by the mayor regarding contracting with King County for police services and has received a proposal from King County. Regarding the library, Goss said that some citizens are paying for a bond issue for library facilities approved prior to annexation. Goss said the administration should be willing to consider contracted services such as outsourcing payroll.

Cmbr. Kiest said he supports the concept of full cost recovery for city services and noted that the city cannot afford the luxury of subsidizing its services. Regarding the proposed cuts to training and travel, Kiest said it is important that the administration consider how to "work smart" in the new environment. Kiest said he is opposed to the proposed elimination of clerical support for the boards and commissions and noted the high return to the city from the work of volunteers.

Cmbr. Thompson said councilmembers need more information regarding costs associated with these proposed guidelines. He said he does not agree with making quick decisions regarding staff reductions. He noted that all must work toward the goal of settling the 2000 budget by December 15.

At 7:20 p.m. all those in attendance viewed the videotaped testimony by Cmbr. Kiest at the Sept. 9 meeting of the Regional Water Quality Committee.

Mayor Hutchinson called the council regular meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.

Hutchinson requested that Year 2000 Budget/Police Services, Detention, Municipal Court under New Business/Discussion be deleted from the agenda so that staff can prepare a proposed budget in response to the approval of Initiative 695.

Cmbr. Thompson asked that this item remain of the agenda for further discussion.

Cmbr. Armanini questioned the length of time it would take to integrate budget revisions into the budget and expressed concerns on the limited amount of time for council to review this prior to adopting it.

In response to a question from Armanini, City Administrator Jacobson explained that the thought was not to produce a final proposal until after next week’s study session when public input would be given which could then be integrated into the final budget.

Armanini said there are statutory requirements regarding budget preparation and noted that the process requires that the administration provide a proposed budget prior to public input.

Cmbr. MacGilvra said that the budget schedule and the proposed budget with the mayor’s revisions must be made available to the public. He said it is important for the public to know what the issues are and to be prepared to comment at the November 18 public hearing.

In response to a question from Armanini, Finance Director Papke said that the revised preliminary budget could be available by Tuesday afternoon, November 9.

Jacobson requested that an item under new business be added regarding discussion of the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) grant for the Morris property.

Thompson moved to confirm Rod Sparks to serve on the Planning Commission, Position 2, term ending 3/31/2001. MacGilvra seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Mayor noted receipt of a $1,000 grant from the Spirit of 2000 organization. He also reported on his attendance at the Association of Washington Cities meeting (AWC) and noted that he has been invited to participate in a judicial review of the municipal court system.

Armanini said that the November 2 meeting of department heads was canceled.

Chief Rogers reported on an Emergency Services Coordinating Agency exercise. Rogers noted the importance of providing information quickly to the department’s dispatchers regarding their jobs.

Cmbr. Kiest thanked the police department for the Halloween bags and reflective wristbands provided to children for their safety.

Jacobson reported that King County Executive Sims distributed a list of proposed transportation cuts that included Metro Route No. 314.

Kiest requested that the October 28, 1999 regular council minutes be pulled from the consent calendar.

Kiest moved to amend the October 28, 1999 minutes as follows:

Page 8, line 39: "…convictions. The intent is to allow a judge to revoke a dancer’s license for a second offense that violates probation as well as for a conviction of a second offense. "

Kiest moved to amend the October 28, 1999 minutes as follows:

Page 9, line 17: "…descriptions. He stated that to grant a salary increase without a revised job description could invite an impression that the salary increase is personality driven rather than based on duties."

Cmbr. Goss moved to amend the October 28, 1999 council minutes as follows:

Page 2, line 22: "…questioned the value of time saved in exchange for citizens of the city…"

Thompson moved adoption of the consent calendar as amended as follows:

1. October 28, 1999 Council Regular Meeting Minutes
2. November 4, 1999 Finance Committee Report covering Warrants Nos. 36348 through 36397 drawn from the Claims Clearing Fund in the amount of $85,980.53 and Warrants No. 18084 through 18160 drawn from the Payroll Clearing Fund in the amount of $132,545.44.

Thompson moved to advance the following items to the November 18, 1999 council agenda second reading calendar:

Resolution 568/Amending Due Date for Drainage Fund Loan Repayment

Ordinance 806/Year 2000 Property Tax Levy

Resolution 569/Declaring Substantial Need to Increase Regular Property Tax Limit Factor

Ordinance 807/Adopting Year 2000 Budget

Thompson moved to authorize the Mayor to Sign the Selection of a Consultant for Due Diligence Study. MacGilvra seconded.

Goss said she has not received information she had requested following discussion of this issue in executive session.

Armanini moved to table this item for discussion later on the agenda.

Thompson said he would like to amend his motion that was tabled at the October 28, 1999 council meeting.

Thompson moved to amend his original motion as follows:

"Thompson moved to amend the initiative and referendum fees to read that the fee will be refunded if the ordinance is overturned."

MacGilvra seconded. The motion to amend carried 5-1 (Aye—MacGilvra, Armanini, Thompson, Goss, Herzog; Nay-Kiest).

Kiest spoke against the motion and noted the cost of administering the initiative and referendum process.

Thompson said he agreed with Cmbr. Kiest and will vote against his motion.

Armanini noted that the fee proposed does not represent full cost recovery for this process.

Thompson moved to retain Resolution 567/Establishing Fees and Charges on second reading for the November 18, 1999 agenda. Armanini seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Thompson moved to retain Ordinance 795/Sanitary Sewer Connection Charges on second reading for the November 18, 1999 meeting.

In response to a comment by Thompson regarding the budget process, Jacobson discussed the sanitary sewer budget and noted that the council must act on this ordinance prior to December 2.

Thompson moved to advance Ordinance 804/Amending Section 5.30.070 Adult Entertainment Licensing to final action calendar.

MacGilvra seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Kiest moved to adopt Ordinance 804/Amending Section 5.30.070 Adult Entertainment Licensing. Thompson seconded.

Kiest thanked the city attorney for addressing his request for language added to the ordinance in response to his concerns.

Thompson moved to accept the amendment drafted by the City Attorney as follows:

Page 2, Section 3, Section 5.30.110:

"…or by both such fine and imprisonment; provided that whenever the court imposes probation as a condition of deferring imposition of sentence or suspending sentence upon a person licensed under this chapter, the court shall provide that upon a finding of a violation of probation the court shall revoke the violator’s license; and provided further, that, whenever a person licensed under this chapter is convicted of a second offense within two years of the date of a prior conviction, the court shall revoke that person’s license."

A five-minute recess was called for at 8:30 p.m.

The meeting was resumed at 8:40 p.m.

Public Safety Commission Chair Jack Rogers and Cmrs. Anita Cecchin and Ray Glore presented the commission’s report to the council dated November 4, 1999.

Rogers discussed findings and recommendations compiled in the report by the commission. He noted that two factors that must be considered are 1) the planned retirement of Chief Rogers and recruitment process to fill this position and 2) the impact of I-695 and how to provide the services that citizens value if cuts are required.

Rogers noted that the commission reviewed information from surveys, written comments and workshops, and he discussed the results of this review.

He discussed recommendations that are based on expressed citizen priorities. He said that the top priorities are visible patrols, traffic enforcement, quick response time, crime prevention and investigation, and domestic violence and a 24-hour facility.

He said that the Commission recommends that the city 1) proceed with hiring a new police chief and focus on community policing; 2) maintain the core services of the police department identified as high priority, 3) direct Chief Rogers to examine potential cost savings guided by the recommendations, 4) maintain a 24 hour dispatch service in response to citizen input, and 5) ensure that disruptions to essential services do not occur if budget reductions require changes in service levels.

In response to a question from Kiest, Rogers said the commission recommends a 24-hour dispatch center in-house and noted that this is tied to response time.

In response to a question from MacGilvra, Rogers said the issue of cost effectiveness was not looked into since there is a dispatch study in progress. Rogers said this is based on local sentiment, and Glore said a local in-house dispatch is ideal because our dispatchers are familiar with our community.

Goss thanked the commissioners for their work on this issue and noted that people who attended the workshops were those citizens who already support the police department. She said she has found a lot of information regarding varying response times. She also discussed the 24-hour dispatch service center and expressed her concern that responses should be sought from people other than the volunteers working with the city.

Cecchin said the public has always been invited to participate in these workshops and meetings and that they have had the opportunity to comment on issues of importance to them.

Glore said the surveys conducted were found to be adequate and represent the community. He said there was ample opportunity for people to come and express their thoughts or concerns.

Thompson discussed the letter from the mayor to the signers of the petition which invited all to participate in the discussion regarding public safety.

Goss observed from the sign-in sheets for the workshops that most who attended were volunteers associated with the city or the police department. She said the city should not base its understanding of public opinion on two workshops.

Cecchin said there is a strong interest among citizens in support of community oriented policing.

Tom Miller, principal project manager, Chuck Krieble and Kathy McClymont, gave an overview of the report and the primary objectives that the study encompassed. He noted that highlights of their findings include 24-hour availability at the police facility, call-to-dispatch wait times, lack of sufficient workload for dispatch employees, inadequate training and operational guidelines, and community familiarity and knowledge. He provided a summary of findings for council consideration.

Miller said that program options include reaffirming the existing Lake Forest Park police dispatch, contracting with the city of Bellevue, contracting with the city of Bothell, or contracting with King County Police. Miller said that there is great anxiety among employees regarding how this matter will be resolved, and it is important to consider their welfare.

In response to a question from Goss, McClymont discussed a range of costs for different levels of equipment upgrades for the various dispatch options.

In response to a question from Herzog, McClymont discussed differences between primary and secondary 911 dispatch centers and how calls are routed.

Kiest discussed the option of becoming a primary 911 dispatch center. Armanini noted that this option would have an impact on the fire district also.

In response to a question from MacGilvra, Sgt. Drown discussed the experience of the city of Duvall’s contract with Redmond for dispatch services.

Miller and McClymont encouraged naming a subcommittee to interview other cities regarding their experience with contracting for dispatch services.

Thompson commended the consultants for their very balanced report, which will assist council in making a decision. In response to a question from Thompson, Miller discussed the issue of liability and referred to charts in the report.

Goss said the council must weigh an experienced contract service provider such as King County and a first-time partnership such as with the city of Bothell in its deliberations.

A five-minute recess was called for at 10:21 p.m.

The meeting was resumed at 10:31 p.m.

Jacobson asked council approval for the police department to name a committee to study the options and pursue answers to questions related to th